Holland's Abi Johns, a swimmer, finding niche as triathlete

Sunday

Aug 24, 2014 at 8:00 AM

By Dan.D'Addona@hollandsentinel.com (616) 546-4276

Abi Johns was looking for a way to keep active in the summer.She also was looking for a way to compete long-term.Johns turned to triathlons immediately found a place she belonged."I wanted to find something to tie the whole summer together," Johns said. "Triathalons sounded fun. I just had to worry about the running part."The first one Johns competed in was the Grand Rapids Triathlon on June 8, which also happened to be the USA National Championship.Johns wasn't shaken, finishing in 1 hour, 25 minutes and taking fourth in the 15-24 age group."Not too bad for my first one," she said. "I finished fourth in my age group, one spot away from getting on the podium. Needless to say, I was hooked."It wasn't easy, however, for the former all-state swimmer."Being a swimmer, I had zero experience in running so that was the biggest challenge for me. Swimming was a no brainier and I assumed the biking would be cake," she said. "But the day of the tri was an eye-opener. I was seeded in a heat of over 200 others swimming in open water. Swimming in anything other then a pool was so different for me. People were thrashing all around me and I had to constantly pick my head up to scan. The biking portion was surprisingly the toughest event for me."It was a national event, something Johns hadn't competed in since swimming at junior nationals last year."People came from all around the world because it was the one to qualify for the world championships in Sweden," she said.Big events are helping the sport grow, said former Calvin All-American swimmer Abby Geurink, a professional triathlete."It has been great to see triathlon grow so quickly both locally and nationally," Geurink said. "With it being an Olympic sport and an emerging collegiate sport, it is getting more recognition and interest. Even at young ages."Johns, a Holland High School graduate is no stranger to pressure situations. Johns was an all-state and All-American swimmer at Holland and landed a scholarship to swim at Wayne State in the fall.Johns won her age group in her second triathlon, in Middleville.Last week, Johns competed in the Kalamazoo Girls Best Friend Olympic Aquabike — no running with 1,000-meters of swimming and a 25-mile bike portion.Johns won her age group again."No running. That was really nice," she said.Now that Johns has found a niche, it is something she would like to develop even more."I definitely will continue to do this past college," Johns said. "I think I really found what I want to pursue to stay active and stay fit."The level of competition has impressed those who have come out to watch."It was fun and exciting to see her compete and do so well," Abi's twin sister Emily said. "I am super proud of her and can't wait too see more."